Built in 1849, Cartmell Cottage was among the earliest residential buildings in Stanley, which had only recently become the new capital of the Falkland Islands. The cottage is being refurbished and will open for public viewing in the summer of 2004.

Cartmell Cottage was one of 30 kits sent from Britain for a detachment of military pensioners who came out as settlers. These Pensioners (the oldest was 42) and their families were encouraged to settle in the Falkland Islands, being offered a house with land that they were required to cultivate.

Private Thomas McDonnel and his family were the first tenants of No. 11 Upper Row, as it was then known. Some of the party were not happy with the life here and in 1857 the government paid the passages for those who wished to return to Britain; the McDonnel family among them.

In 1993 Andrew “Nutt” Cartmell generously donated the house (now known as No. 7 Pioneer Row) to the Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust. Just a few years later Nutt died and the house was named in his memory.

Much work has been done since to restore the building to its original state. The plot of garden ground, which had become divided, has been returned to the house and there are plans to develop this in the future. Cartmell Cottage still needs a huge input of effort and finance to be fully restored, but the F.I.M.N.T. is committed to this endeavour. A small entrance fee will be charged, and this will be used towards further work at the Cottage.